Card-index-filing system



1. RICH.

/ CARD INDEX'FILING SYSTEM.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, 1919.

1,3,61,4=94. I Patented Dec. 7, 1920,

/ .Q 2 z e f] a z I Swuamtoz spe'otion without J OHN L. RICH, OF HOBART,NEW YORK.

CARD-INDEX-FILING SYSTEM.

Application filed April 17, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN L. R1011, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hobart, in the county of Del-aware and State of New York,have invented a new and Improvement in Card-Index-Filing Systems, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The subject of this invention is a card index filing system in whichcards relating to a certain subject or subjects may be readilysegregated in a drawer or container, and the same constitutes animprovement on the well known Robinson Findex system or similar systems.

In systems heretofore used for this purpose it is necessary to withdrawthe drawer or container from itscase and invert the same so that thecards desired may drop by gravity to a position to permit ofexamination. As the cards have a tendency to adhere to each other it isimpossible to tell whether all cards desired for examination havedropped down, and, consequently, whether the examination of the cardshas been accurate and complete.

The present invention is designed to permit desired cards to besegregated for inremoval its cabinet or case and to for positivelymoving the them from other container from provide means cards desired tosegregate cards.

The invention lso contemplates the provisions of a specially punchedcard for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the v invention.

The invention further contemplates generally im roving the constructionand enhancing t e utility of card index filing systerns.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts and in the details of constructionhereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be j madewithin the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustratedin theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a drawer constructed in accordance with theinvention, cards shown in place therein;

Specification of Letters Patent.

useful a of the drawer or Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

Serial No. 290,771.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of the device,cards shown in segregated position in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the operative mechanism and cards removedfrom the drawer;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a slide or upright; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the cards.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference The device forcarrying out the system, which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, comprises a drawer 1, which, while herein shown with cut downsides. may be of any suitable and convenient'design'. The

drawer or drawers are intended to he slid-,

ably mounted in a suitable cabinet or casing, not shown. The drawer isformed with front slots or guideways 2, and rear guide-.

ways 3, in which are mounted for vertical sliding movement the front andrear elements or slides 4 and 5 respectively. While such slides orelements are only shown at the front and rear of the drawer orcontainer, it is to be understoodthat they may be suitably positionedthroughout the drawer if desired.

The front slide 4, is provided with spaced apart rows of apertures 6,which are in alinement with the similar spaced-apart rows of apertures 7provided in the rear element or slide 5.

A suitable means is pro ided for raising the elements 4 and 5, whendesired, the specific structure for this purpose herein shown consistingof a rod 8, which is journaled in the lower part of the drawer 1, andextends longitudinally thereof. The rod 8 Y is formed, at its forwardlyextending end, with a knurled knob 8 by which the rod may be rocked.Rigidly connected to the rod 8 are cams 9 and 10, which underlie thefront and rear elements or slides, respectively, and which operate toraise the slides in unison when the rod 8 is rocked. inone di rection. 1

The cards 11, which are designed for use in a system of thischaracterpare provided 'with perforations 12 corresponding to theperforations in the front element 4 and rear element 5 and adapted toaline therewith when-the cards are placed in the drawer 1.

and 14 the purpose of which will soon be explained. An extra erforationor perforations, oneof which 1s shown at 15, may be formed in the cardsfor the purpose of permitting all cards in the drawer to be raisedsimultaneously if desired.

Rods such asindicated at 16 are provided for insertion in selectedapertures 6 and 7 and the corresponding perforations or slots in thecards.

In use the'drawer is pulled out of the cabinet a sufiicient' distance tofree the cards, and the'rod 16 inserted through the proper aperture 6corresponding to the cards containing the information desired. As willbe readily understood, the-cards containing the information desired willhave a perforation 12 in alinement with such selected aperture 6 or thetop of a slot 14 will be in alinement therewith. The knob 8 is thengrasped and turned to rock the rod 8 and throw the cams 9 and 10 againstthe respective lower edges of the elements or slides 4E and 5 and raisethe slides, rod 16, and the desired cards. In order that only thedesired cards may be raised by this operation all other cards will beprovided with slots alining with the selected aperture 6, said slotsextending above said selected aperture to at least the distance betweenthe horizontal rows of apertures. It is necessary that the slots extendthis distance as the device is designed to raise the slides and cardsthe exact distance between horizontal rows of apertures.

With the foregoing in mind, it will be clear that combinations ofsubjects may be selected as follows If desired to segregate all cardspunched, for example, for the combined characters 5, and f, the firstprocedure is to insert a rod 16 in any one of the desired apertures 6,as

for example, the one corresponding to the character I), and raise therod in the manner heretofore set forth. Th1s ralses all cards having thecharacter 6 including those having also characters 0 and f. Next, whilethe slides are still in raised position, a rod 16 is inserted in theaperture 6 corresponding to the character'c and the first rod iswithdrawn from the aperture corresponding to the character I). This willpermit all cards corresponding to the character 6 which are notalsonnched for the character 0 to fall back to tide lower or normalposition. Next, a rod is inserted in the aperture 6, corresponding tothe character f, and the rod is Withdrawn from the aperturecorresponding to the character 0. This will permit all cards exceptthose having the combination of characters represented by the charactersb, c and f to fall back to normal position. This process may be repeatedfor any number of cha 'acters.

In cases where the cards are of considerable width and there is dangerof the cards binding especially when the rods are inserted toward oneside of the card, an additional rod may be inserted in the extraaperture or apertures 15 and all cards raised simultaneously. With thevcards in this raised position, a rod 16 may be inserted in theaperturecorresponding to the desired character or combination ofcharacters and said elements, and means engageable with the elements andselected cards for moving such cards with said elements.

2. 'A card index filing system, including a container for the receptionof cards and having slides, means for moving the slides simultaneously,and means engageable with the slides and selected cards for moving thecards upon movement of the slides.

3. A card index filing system, including a container for the receptionof cards and havsaid elements, and means engageable with the elementsand selected cards for moving such cards with said elements and forretaining selected cards in such moved position.

4. A card index filing system, including a container for the receptionof cards, movable elements connected to the container and provided withspaced apart apertures, means for moving the elements, and meansinsertible through the apertures to engage selected cards and move thesame to segregated positions when said elements are moved.

5. A card index filing system including cards provided with spaced apartvertical rows of perforations to the spaces between which perforationsare assigned designated headings, said spaces between perforations beingpunched out except, those assigned to headings which it is desired toselect.

JOHN L. RICH.

ing movable elements, means for moving

